Training a border collie to herd sheep is tough work, the toughest training work I have ever done (well, maybe Frieda was tougher.). It requires concentration, patience, instinct and judgement,  physicality and a level of positive enthusiasm that is not always natural to me.

It is nine parts frustration and one part sweet and glorious moments. Like this morning, when I saw Fate break into this fast and confident outrun, running past (not into) the sheep and turning them around. That is herding, and it is a lovely moment, it affirms the wonderful instinct of this dog, and my good decision to let her develop it in her own time and way.

She moved quickly, with stamina and purpose, she was businesslike, she got in front of the sheep and turned them towards me, as I had asked  her to do. This was not something she could have done a month ago, or even a week ago.

Fate is still not big or commanding enough to stop the sheep and move them where she wants, they still rush out to chase and butt her. But her confidence is growing by the day, and  her skills. It was good to start her early, good to have her work with Red, good to move slowly.  Our program is working. I am even getting a lot of nice messages from the border collie snobs and keepers of the faith, with whom I have had an uneasy relationship, to say the least. Fate speaks for herself, she makes me look good, I’d pass along the credit to Dr. Karen Thompson, my friend, an exemplary human and wonderful breeder of border collies.

She gave me Red and Fate, and I doubt I will  ever get a dog from another source as long as Karen is around. Fate is beginning to calm down, she is leaving the wastebaskets along, sleeping during the daytime, even sitting calmly at moments doing nothing in particular. She is very affectionate, very intelligent, very curious, very busy. She is a border collie, through and through, both her parents are from Wales. She is a very quick learner.

She walks well off leash, does not ever run off, chews mostly on her own stuff, loves people. I love her Pirate eye, I think she has a great sense of humor, although it might be the eye.